On October 28, 1846 the six covered wagons brought west by George and Jacob Donner and their families halted
here for repairs. By March of 1847 one half of the party of 22 adults and children had died of starvation and cold.
They came west seeking a new life and found misery and death.

Tall tree stumps were once numerous throughout this area. They were cut by the Donner Party during
their winter-long mission of gathering firewood. Stump heights, up to 12 feet, give an indication of
the snow depth that winter.